Your giving is appreciated

'Tis the season to be jolly -- and to give.

Not-for-profit organizations across the nation generate the lion's share of their contributions during this last quarter of the year -- with particular generosity exhibited at year-end, according to the DMA Nonprofit Federation.

That's certainly true for us at Southeast Missouri Food Bank. And while we always welcome large contributions, because we're dealing with hungry, hurting individuals and families, even the smallest year-end contribution goes a long way.

Most of us are fascinated by newspaper reports of a wealthy individual donating millions of dollars to her favorite charitable organization. We want to commend the generosity and willingness to share with those less fortunate. But sometimes that admiration for such large gifts can leave the rest of us feeling intimidated when we pull out our own checkbooks to write a donation to our favorite charity. Will our check for $10, or maybe even less, really help anything? Do such small gifts really help charitable organizations accomplish much?

The answer is a very strong yes. While not-for-profit organizations certainly appreciate gifts of millions of dollars, there's a reason why newspapers write about them -- they're very rare. If a charity relied only on large gifts, it soon would be bankrupt. According to the DMA Nonprofit Federation, the vast majority of charitable gifts are quite small. One reason is that many people prefer to support favorite charities over time, making several donations during a year. Donors may give in response to specific appeals, or may prefer to do something throughout the year, making a small gift on a regular schedule, such as in a monthly giving program. Giving that way, usually by credit card, also makes the whole process easier and more automatic.

Of course, one reason to spread out our gifts over the year is that most of us are not millionaires. Writing one large check might be a strain on a budget, but the cost can be more manageable if the overall donation is spread out as a series of gifts throughout the year. That's why a regular giving program, such as being a monthly donor, can help both the donor and the charity budget more easily. But even when small donations are received on a more random schedule, today's efficient charities know how to maximize the gifts' effectiveness.

Here at the Southeast Missouri Food Bank every dollar donated helps us provide seven meals to our hungry neighbors, during the holidays and all year long. Small gifts, of any amount, really do make a big difference in the lives of your neighbors in need. So whether you can afford a gift great or small, we count it as a privilege to have your trust.

Merry Christmas and best wishes for the new year.

Karen Green is the executive director of the Southeast Missouri Food Bank.